Who Threatened Whom: SARTR's Play 'For a Whole Life' Canceled in Zenica

(Patria) - The play "Za život cijeli" by the Sarajevo War Theatre (SARTR), which was supposed to be performed in the Competition Program of the XXV Festival of Bosnian Drama in Zenica, has been canceled by the decision of the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica. Following the cancellation of the play, the director of SARTR, Maja Salkić-Burazerović, issued a statement.

The Sarajevo War Theatre SARTR considers the cancellation of the festival performance of the play "Za život cijeli" within the XXV Festival of Bosnian-Herzegovinian Drama Zenica 2026 to be extremely concerning, which occurred due to serious security threats, pressures, and the lack of timely institutional reaction from the competent authorities.

"The fact that the threats and pressures came from fan groups and individuals who attempted to influence the programming decisions of a public cultural institution through violence and intimidation is particularly worrying.

For over three decades, SARTR has operated on the principles of artistic freedom, dialogue, and social responsibility. Precisely for this reason, we believe that any attempt at intimidation, threats, or prevention of performances constitutes a serious attack not only on a production or institution but also on the fundamental democratic and civilizational principles of freedom of artistic expression.

We particularly emphasize that the protection of cultural events, artists, audiences, and public cultural institutions must be the obligation and responsibility of the competent institutions.

It is unacceptable for festival organizers, theaters, and artists to be left without clear and timely support from security structures in situations where there are serious threats to public order and peace," stated Salkić-Burazerović.

They emphasize that they simultaneously understand the responsibility of the Bosnian National Theatre Zenica and the Festival Organizing Committee towards the safety of employees, participants, and the audience, especially considering the seriousness of the threats and the lack of concrete reaction from the competent institutions within the necessary timeframe.

"However, we believe it is extremely important to clearly state that yielding to pressures and threats as a decision-making mechanism for cultural programs opens the door to the normalization of censorship in the long run and endangers artistic freedom in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We must not allow threats of violence to ban artistic content simply because it does not align with their wishes or views, nor to determine the programs of public cultural institutions in this way.

We call on the competent institutions to react urgently and responsibly to prevent threats and pressures from becoming a means of deciding on art and public space," conclude SARTR.

BNP has issued a statement.